Governor's cuts to carve into community college sports

A proposal to cut funding for physical education and recreation classes at California's community colleges has left some administrators and educators feeling betrayed by a governor with a background in physical fitness and bodybuilding.

"I couldn't believe it, with his background and his history," said David Evans, a dean and athletic director at San Diego Mesa College. "I feel a little bit betrayed on this issue."

The Ventura County Community College District stands to lose $3.4 million if the plan is implemented, according to Sue Johnson, vice chancellor for business services.

"The problem is ... the instructors who teach the class have to be qualified to teach a credit class and the cost to teach those classes is no less than any other class," Johnson said. "There's illogic in there somewhere."

The proposal is part of Schwarzenegger's plan to close the state's $24 billion budget gap. The governor proposed $178.4 million in reductions to community college funding, $120 million of which would come from reduced funding for physical education and recreational courses.

Carlyle Carter, executive director of the California Community College Athletic Association, said the proposal threatens the future of community college athletics.

"The proposal defies logic," Carter said. "The potential is there to deny thousands of students across the state the ability to pursue their dreams."

Carter read off a list of two-year graduates who went on to become famous professional athletes, including baseball's Jackie Robinson and Frank Robinson. Former NFL running back Jamal Anderson was a Moorpark College graduate.

"Community colleges have always been an alternative for at-risk students," Carter said. "Reducing opportunities they provide could have a tsunami effect on individuals' lives."

Sports schedules slashed

The association has been preparing for budget cuts for months. It has already slashed next season's schedules from 10 to 20 percent per sport, canceling 4,300 total contests for an estimated $1.5 million in savings, according to Carter.

Community college basketball teams that could play as many as 28 contests this season will only play 24 next winter. Baseball (from 44 to 36) and softball (50 to 40) received the deepest cuts.

"We recognized it was necessary that we take that step," Carter said. "I think everyone is fully aware of the magnitude of the budget deficit."

Administrators and coaches say they should not bear more than their fair share of the cuts.

"Looking at the obesity crisis, it's difficult to understand how we can go down this road," said James Forkum, the dean and athletic director at Santa Rosa Junior College.

"It's not in the best interests of our country. It's not in the best interests of our individual students."

With that in mind, county college officials said they would treat the proposed loss of funding as a general cut, rather than a department-specific one.

"(The state) has to glean so much savings," Johnson said. "We're not looking at it as a P.E. funding hit. We're looking at a general funding hit."

Johnson, however, said it threatens the long-term viability of physical education classes. "It is very dangerous ground when a legislator gets into particular curriculum and says this course is worth less," Johnson said. "Those are issues of the college, not of the Legislature."